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Hello,
I wonder if there are any of you using MLA-2 for mastering work.
I've got one and find it very useful for treating guitar rock/metal mixes.
However I don't like it on hip hop or dance.
Let me know how you guys find the MLA-2.
Any thoughts are welcome.

Jacek Gawlowski
http://www.jgmasterlab.com

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anonymous Sun, 02/08/2004 - 13:06

Hi Henrik,
I find the MLA-2 dry sounding.Pumping on it is really nice with fast release settings.
It really works for rock music!
It's the exact opposite to my Manley Vari-Mu.
That's why I've got both really.
The Input controls are very important on MLA-2.
I don't find ratios above 1.4 useful for what I do and tend to keep the release as fast as possible for a little breathing effect.
I also wonder what Joe's opinion is.
Please let us know.

Jacek Gawlowski
http://www.jgmasterlab.com

joe lambert Mon, 02/09/2004 - 07:39

I have a fairly new MLA-2 which replaces an older one we once had. I spoke to Leif M (the designer) and he told me of a few modifications to it that allow's a little bit more low end through.
It's a very good compressor. I've used it on all styles of music. It does have a different sound than the Vari. MU. I tend to use it on things that I feel are already on the bright side. I think the MU brings out the upper mids more. Sometimes I want that, sometimes I don't.
It takes getting used to. You can really push it if you want without hearing the compressor pumping.

It's a great mastering compressor.

anonymous Mon, 02/09/2004 - 10:13

I also have a Prism MLA-2 compressor. I use it all the time and like it very much. I believe mine is an older unit which has a dark grey front panel. The newer one has a black front panel. Anyway, for compression on pop/rock/hip hop/r n b music, I am getting excellent result from the Prism MLA-2 and the Crane Song STC-8M. But in the past few months, almost all the mixes that came in were pretty much squashed to death. Some of them were even limited with a L2. My Prism was left out on the chain for the last few projects.

anonymous Mon, 02/09/2004 - 11:06

Mine has grey front panel too and was purchased in may last year,so it's relatively new.
Have they changed anything since then?
By the way I've never seen it with a black front.

I use the Maselec on 3 out of 10 projects.The remaining 7 gigs go thru the Manley Vari-Mu mostly
to warm and fatten things up a little.
But I sometimes find the Manley too "lazy" for certain program materials and that's where the Prism comes in with its faster response.
I also like the Prism+Massive Passive combination.
Sounds really cool!

Jacek Gawlowski
http://www.jgmasterlab.com